Some videos with very small dimensions won't play directly in the Discord desktop app, even though the file itself is valid and plays normally elsewhere. Here's why this happens, and how to watch the video in the meantime.
What this article covers:
Why This Happens
The Discord desktop app uses hardware-only video decoding to play videos efficiently. Due to varying hardware decoder compatibility requirements, playing back videos less than 64 pixels on any edge is not supported.
When a video falls below that threshold, playback can't start on desktop, even though the file itself isn't damaged or corrupted.
What You Can Do
If a video won't play in the desktop app, you can still watch it using your device's default media player:
- Download the video file from Discord.
- Open the downloaded file with your device's default media player (ie. QuickTime Player, Windows Media Player, or VLC).
- The video should play outside of Discord.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why won't my video play directly in Discord?
A: Due to varying hardware decoder compatibility requirements, videos less than 64 pixels on any edge aren't supported for playback. This isn't an issue with your file - it's a limitation of the hardware decoder.
Q: Is my video file corrupted?
A: No. The file is valid and plays normally in other media players. This limitation only affects direct playback within the Discord desktop app.